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. Sheres-Shetl. F. W. FREUND. BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARM.

Patented Nov. '7, 1876.

No.1s4.,zoz.

fm2/e 6. Sheets-Sheet 5.

F. W. FREUND. BREEcH-LOADING FIRE-ARM.

No; lSQZOZ. Patented Nov. 7,1876.y

d y @MW 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

F. W. FREUND. BREECH-LOADIN'G FIRE-ARM.

. Patented Nov. 7, 1876.

No.184h202.

FRANK W. FREUND, OF CHEYENNE, WYOMING TRRITORY.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREEFQH-,LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of ,Letters Patent No. EQLBJBQDQ, dated November 7, 1876; application filed May 11, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK W. FREUND, of Oheyennecity, in the county of Laramie and Territory of Wyoming, have invented new and useful Improvements in Breech-Loading Guns, which improvements are fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,in which- Figure 1 is a'vertcal longitudinal section and partial side elevation of my improved gun, showing the operating parts as they appear directly after firing the gun. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical central section of the said gun with the breech fully open for the purpose ot' loading. Fig. 3 is a similarsection of the operating parts behind the breech,

f with the breech closed for firing and the hammer at full cock.7 Fig. 4' is avertical longitudinal section and partial side elevation of the operating parts, showing the hammer at half-cockand the breech partly closed, and a portion'of the cartridge outside of the breechchamber. Fig. 5- is a detailed view of the hammer and the breech-piece, with the ham mer in the trst notch. Fig. 6 is a cross-section in line a: of Fig. 4; and Fig. 7 is asimilar section in the line y y of Fig. 2, illustratthereof. Fig. 17 is a sectional view of the hind p portionot'the stock provided with a pistolgrip. Fig. 18 is a back View of the pistolgrip fastening. Fig. 19 is a strap-holder made interchangeable with the detachable pistol-grip.` Fig. 20 is a modification in section of -the pistol-grip shown in Fig. 17. Fig. 21

. is a back view of the fastening of the pistol y grip or strap. Fig. 2 2 is a top view of the detachable pistol-grip. Figs. 23 and 24 are illustrations of dii'erentmodes for -fastening the front stock. Fig. 25 illustrates the inside formation of the breech-frame. Figs. 26, 27,

es, 29, 3o, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 3 6, and -37 repre- Cnsn B.

sent modifications of the several parts of the gun, hereafter more fully described.

The main object of my invention is to furnish a re-arm'in which all the parts of the lock mechanism and other parts composing the arm are interlocked with one another without detachable pins or screws, and se-v cured in permanent position by a nal fastening device, which can be operated by hand, and the operating of which 'fastening device will permit al1 the parts severally or all together to be detached from the stock or from one another without the -us'e of any tool orA instrument.

The nature of my invention consists in certain constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts,'as hereinafter described and specilically claimed, whereby the above-mentioned object is secured, and at the same time .-a lire-arm of greatly-improved construction produced, said tire-arm being capable of being loaded and discharged with great rapidity,

' and ot' being taken apart without tools, such as screw-drivers, and which, owing to its sim-l plicity of construction, can be takenapart and put together by any person in the day or night time without danger of disarrangiug, breaking, or losing the smaller parts, as with. fire arms of usual construction, said {ire-arm also f having the' number of vits separable parts greatly reduced, as' the function of many of fthe respective parts is multiplied,'and while all the foregoing advantages are secured the parts, especially of the lock mechanism, may

,b'e made cheaper and more durable.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand my invention I will proceed Vto de scribeit.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a gun-barrel fastened to a breech-frame, B. The said breech-frame is mortisedfor the reception of atri gger-plate, U, and all the other parts necessary for the operationof loading and tiringl the gun. .The trigger-plate Y( is provided with anges c, which t into depressions c1, Figs. 6 and 25, in the sides of the breech-frame, and the extremities of which form apart of the bearings o2 for the shaft D of the shell-retractor d. The saidshaft D supports the vertical breech-piece E, which is lockedby the horizontal breech-locking piece f F when the gun is to be fired. The breech'- piece E is provided with crescent-shaped levers E', ending with wedge shaped ends e, by means of which it is turned oi' the breech of the gun, when the breech-locking piece-F descends upon them. A cylindrical shield, el, concentric with the shaft l), and bearing against the lowerend of the breech, prevents dust or anything else from enteringfthe space below. The back surface ofthe breech-piece E is so shaped as to form a bearing for the front `ends f of the breech-locking piece F in its ascent, and a small step, e2, serves as a check for the said motion. Through this construction the ascending motion of the breech-lockling pieceF causes the breech-piece E to rise and close the breech of the gun. The cartridge-shell extractor d is inserted in the front part of the breech-frame B to a depth sufficient to allow the catch d1 to rest against the front part ofthe rim of the cartridge, as seen in Fig. 10. -'.lhe lower part of vthe extractor moves in. a depression on the side of the breech-piece E, between the shoulders e3 and e4, whereby the movements of the shell-extractor are so limited that the shell is removed, after the lbreech-piece E is sufficiently `out of the way to permit ,the entire removal of the shell. To prevent the shell-extractor from swaying too far backward, it is provided with a lug, d, which comes in contact with the front end f of the breech-locking piece F, when th'eV breech is fully opened, and thus cannot fall against the shoulder e3 on the breech-piece E. The lower part of the breechpieceE is slotted, and the hammer Gr is inserted into the said slot', so as to ha'vc a bearing on the shaft D. The breech-locking piece F is also slotted at its front part to permit the the hammer to be moved, in the so-formed slot. The breech-piece F has a semi-cylindrical bearing, F1, in the rear abutment B of the breech-frame, and is, when the breechis closed, directly in line with the center line ofthe gun-barrel. A handle, F2, is constructed upon the upper part of the breech-locking piece F, whereby itis operated. breech-locking piece is prevented from slipping out of its bearing toward the front by a concentric rib, f1, which moves in a corresponding grooved bearing, b, in the abutment B. The hammer G is provided with a projection, g, upon which. the branch h of the spring H bears, and; withv a firing-pin, g4, which enters the breech-piece E through an opening, e5, before it strikes the cartridge. The sides of the lsaid hammer are provided with lugs or pins g1 g2, upon which the breech locking piece F bears successively in its descent, thereby forcing the hammer back until it arrives at the third rest. To enable the pins gz to move beyond the arms El of the breech piece E the said arms are provided with grooves e6, through which the pins gl may The said in place.

pass. The spring H is cut from one piece of metal, thereby forniing three branches, one, h, having the second branch 11,1 cut out from its center and bent down to operate the trigger I, while the end of the branch h is made to operate the hammer. The third branch h2 is bent upward, and extends into an eccentric cavity, f2, in the breech-locking piece F, and, by bearing onthe eccentric surface therein, keeps the said breech-locking piece steady in its lower position. The said branch h2 is an extension of the main or wider part of the spring which operates the hammer, and it is at thejunction with the same doubled up,-so as to form a strong double plate, h3, which is inserted into the notch ciin'thc upright end Cl of the trigger-plate, thereby keeping the combined spring H in position. The hammer G isprovided with three notches or rests, the first one ofwhich keeps the hammer inr such a position as-to prevent the tiring-pin g4 touching the cartridge, as is illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The second rest is equivalent with half-cock, and the third rest is used previous to the firing of the gun.

` The trigger I is provided with a fulcrumpin, t', which is inserted into the|triggerplate in a lateral direction. The trigger being in the center of the trigger-plate, the vacant room .of the opening in the said trigger-plate is covered by a wing, il, on the trigger. The rear end G1 of the trigger-plate is provided with a pin, c4, which is inserted into the back wallof the breech-frame, thus preventing any vertical movement of the rear end of the trigger-plate. The front end of the trigger-plate is provided with a transverse groove, C2, and two projections, c5, which fit into corresponding recesses b1 in the breech-frame, and thereby prevent a vertical movement of the front end ofthe trigger-plate. The front stock J is provided with a wedge, K, which has two heads, 7g k', through which the end of the cleaning-rod L is passed, to keep the wedge in place. groove C2 of the trigger-plate, and it is provided with pins k2, which are inserted into the the stock, thereby rmly uniting stock and wedge. The wedge K, when in its normal position, rests againstthe lower part of the gun-barrel, and is between the breech frame and a lug, a, on the gun-barrel, thereby keeping thefront stock from moving forward or backward. Aband, J1, may be used to insure a tight t between the front stock and gunbarrel. Near the muzzle of the gun the front stock is provided with'a metal cap, M, which has va shank, m, throughwhich `the pin u of the band-spring N is passed, thus holding it The cap M is provided with a step, m', which bears against al shoulder, l, of the cleaning-rod L, and thereby keeps it in'place. A band, J2, keeps the front part of the front stock in close contact with the gunbarrel. The rear stock O is attached to the` rear part of the breech-frame by means of a T-head,

The 'rear head k1 is lmade to fit the y with a vertical notch, c5, into which the head o fits only in its normal position, and the pin c4 on the trigger-plate is made so long as to enter into the stock.

The rod O, on which the head o is formed, and to which the butt end is fastened, projects a little beyond the stock, and the said projection ts into a recess, o1, in the rear end of the breech-frame, as seen in Figs; 2 and 3, thereby steadying and strengthening the connections ot' the breech frame and rear stock against torsional strains. The rod 01 may also serve as a key for keeping a shank, p, ot a cap, P, for a pistol-grip, P1, in place, aas seen in Fig. 17, and shown in detail by a front view of thev cap in Fig. 18. I may also, in the same manner, attach a strap-holder, P2, o the rear stock, as seen in Fig. 19, or make4 both the pistol-grip and strap-holder exchangeable. The rear end of the rod 0' is fastened to the butt-plate O2, and is thereby prevented from turning. i

Operation: The handle Fz of the breechlocking piece F is raised, whereby the breechlocking piece F becomes lowered and strikes the pins g1 ot' the hammer G. The hammer now is moved back, and the breech-locking piece F then strikes the pins g2 and the points e ot' the breech-piece E, which now is turned oil' the breech, while the hammer is moved into the third rest. When the movement of the front breech-piece E is nearly completed its lower projection e4 strikes the retractor d, thereby7 lnovingthe cartridge-shell of the previous charge from its seat in the gun-barrel. After the said cartridge-shell is removed the new charge is inserted into the gun-barrel, the breech-piece F in the meantime being kept in itsvlowered position by the pressure of the spring [L2 on its eccentric bearing f2. While the new cartridge is lbeing inserted its rim comes in contact with the catch d1 of the retractor, and takes it along until they both arrive at their normal position. The breechlocking piece F in its lowered position, which is represented by Fig. 2, serves to steady the breechpiece E and the retractor d by being in contact with the inner surface of the breechpiece E, and by checking the further progress of the lug dz of the retractor d. The handle F3 1s now depressed, and the front part f of the breech-locking' piece F moves up, bearing against the inner surface of the breech-piece E, which is thereby swung back upon the breech of the gun, thus closing it. The gun 1s now ready for firing;- but, if not desired to lire, the hammer may be moved to the first or second rest. The second rest may be used when the operator wishes to remove the breechpiece E and partly retract 4the cartridge, in Aprder to give warningand show' that the gun 1s loaded, as is illustrated by Fig. 4.

Manner of taking the above-described gun to` pieces without the aid of screw-driver, punch, drift, or wrench: The cleaning-rod with its shoulder is sprung over the step formed by the front cap of the stock, and then removed. The front band and the rear band' are then removed, and the stock taken oi' the breech-frame, when it is bodily, with the ham- I A mer, front breech-block, spring, and trigger,

taken out ofthe breech-frame in a downward direction. The retractor is then removed from the hammer and front breech-block, and the said three pieces are all thereby separated.

Y The trigger is now removed from its bearing by pulling it ont sidewise. rldhe mailnspring is now removed by pushing its shank h3 out of its bearing. The rear breech-block is then swung as far into the breech-frame as it will go, and pushed over its outer bearings, whereby it becomes detached, and the cleaning-rod L is next removed from stock J. The wedge K is then removed from the stock J. The rear stock 0 is now turned at a right angle to its normal position and pulled from the breech-frame. By pushing the rod 0l back this rod and the butt-plate attached thereto may be separated from the rear stock. Thus all ot' the detachable pieces are separated from their connections except the barrel and frame, and the gun in all its parts can now be cleaned and oiled.

The barrel should never be unscrewed from the frame, except by a skilled workman, as the threads would be worn thereby, and thus allow oscillation upon tiring. Ii' the frame and barrel should rust together', so as to virtually form-one piece, all the better.

AThe barrel and frame are made in separate pieces for the convenience ot' case-hardening the frame, (which is necessary to prevent rust and the wearing ot' the orifices necessary to receive the journals ot' the spveral parts, and also to prevent expansion at the moment of iiring,) while the barrel remains of sot'ter material.

I may, however, unite the barrel and frame after case-hardeningl the latter by soldering, as the solder requires not as much heat for melting as the reduction of the hardening of the frame. This makes the barrel and frame really but o ne piece, while allowing each its` ing piece F may versa, the former a trigger-guard. Fig. 21 shows 4 exchangeable for the pistol-grip. Fig. 22 is a is inserted in the stock J groove, in to which the foot scribed.

The eccentric surface f2 on the breech-lockbe substituted by two straightl surfaces, f3 f4, as shown in Fig. 29.

The shank h3 of the spring H may be provided with a cylindrical back, as seen in Fig. 26, which is laterally inserted in a horizontal notch, c3, in the end c1 of the trigger-plate.

The rod O1 may be iiush with the front end of the rear stock, which is then provided with a circular step, VO, fitting in a corresponding depressionfbz, in the breech-frame, or vice Figs. 26 and 27.

In Fig. 26 I have shown the breech-frame with a more straightened outline below, which lreer to that shown in Fig. 25, and Figs. 1, 1 7 The cap M, 4shown in Fig.- 32, has a slotted shank, m, into which slot the stepped head ml of a metallic bearing,

rod maybe inserted, and thereby conjointly fastened to the stock y means of the pin of the band-spring.

Fig. 24 represents av modification of the wedge K in the front stock. Fig. 23shows a modification of the manner of fastening the front stock to the breechframe. Fig. 20 illustrates a pistol-grip detachable, and lockedby a strap-holder top View of the removable pistol-grip, the cap being removed to exhibit the shape of the mortise into which the separate shank p is inserted. In Figs. 33 and 34 is showna mode for eifectin g the attachment of the front stock to the barrel by means of lugs al, which are fastenedl on the barrel, and are inserted into 'the stock, the cleaning-rod L passing through them and the stock, and thereby securing them together.' The lug M serves in the capacityof the cap M, shownl in Fig. 16. For the application of a strap-holder a plate, .19, is provided. This` plate is perforated for the passage of the cleaning-rod L, and has aswiveled head, P3, for the reception of the strapholder proper, as shown in Fig. 35, by a crosssection ,in theline z z of Fig, 33. This plate wherever convenient.

The swivel-head .P3 has a socket, p2, at each end, wherein the ends of the strap-ring p3 are sprun g.

I have shown another inode of fastening the front stock to the, barrel by a longitudinal section in Fig. 36, and by'a central cross-'section in Fig. 37. The barrel in this case is provided with overlapping lugs a2, forming a T-shaped of the shank p of the strap-holder is inserted and locked thereto by a so-called bayonet-fastening. The head--A ofthe said shank has a broad rim, whereby it keeps the stock close to the barrel. The cleaning-rod is passed through' the said shank,

case being illustrated by- M', for the cleaningy and thereby prevents-it'froni turning and be-- tion for a patent a detachable sight, which may be removed upon the removal of the front stock.

I have several dierent forms of raised sights, which are-constructed and attachedA without any separate pin, and which become detachable upon the removal of the front stock, for which I intend to make a separate application for Letters Patent.

I iiitend, in another application, to show that the second front projection on the barrel may be discarded by attaching the stock to the barrel by the4 strap-holder alone, as willy appear in my proposed applications for patents.

In case persons should prefer and insist upon the old style of band shown at J1, they can be employe-d, but I prefer' the method hereiubefore described.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. A'breech-loading gun mechanism, substantially as described, having its respective parts constructed and arranged to match, support, and lhold together one another in such a manner that the use of separate pins, screws, or other similar means of fastening the parts together, is avoided, substantially as herein set forth.

2. 'A breech-loading gun mechanism and gun-stock, substantially as described, in combination with a single fastening device, whereby said single fastening device is` made toserve for securing all the mechanism in place, and 'by operating it the' parts, severally or altogether, may be detached from the stock or from one another without the use of any tool or instrument, substantially in the manner set forth.

3. The breech-piece E, turning on a b earing below the' axis f the barrel, the vbifur- 'cated brace F, having a bearing, F1at its rear end, in the frame, about on a line with vthe axis ofthe barrel, and a central hammer,

arranged to strike the cartridge through au opening inv the breech-piece E, all combined and operating substantially as set forth.

4. The retractor d, breech-piece E, and the hammer G, combined as shown and described, whereby thepiu D serves as a common fulcruin for the several parts.

5. The trigger plate C, constructed substantially as described, whereby the lock-and breech mechanism and the rear stock are secured to theirA places, substantially as herein set forth.

6. The rib or rear bearing f 1 of the frame,

v in'combination with the breech-locking piece F, provided with a shoulder on an extension of the locking-piece, to prevent forward movement of said locking-piece, as described.

7. The combination ot' the breech-piece E,-

the breech-locking piece F, provided with the eccentric inside bearing f2, and the spring h2,

arranged and/operating substantially as described.

' 8. The hammer G, having side pins or projections g1 g2, in combination with the block F, whereby the hammer is cocked when the breech is opened, and whereby it closes the breech in the act of firing, substantially as herein described.

9. The extractor d, provided with the lug.

d2, the breech-block E, arranged to turnbackward on a bearing below the line of the axis of the barrel, anda locking-piece, F, the parts being arranged to operate in relation to each other, substantially as described.

10. The mainspring H, having the branches h hl h2 h3, all being made of one piece of sheet metal, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. Y.

11. The combination of the head o of the rear stock, and the notch c6 in the rear part C1 of thetrigger plate, whereby the turning of the stock is prevented, substantially as described. Y

12. The combination of the trigger-plate C,

breech-frame B, and the stock 0, constructed f held with its attachments firmly againstvertical movement, substantially as described.

14. The combination of the breech-frame B, having depressions b1 and c1, and the trigger-.plate C, having projections c", flanges c,

and a transverse groove, C2, and the wedge K, in thefront stock, having the heads'k k1, and the barrel A, having anabutment, a, whereby the trgger-plate is secured in its place, and prevented from downward and for' l ward motion.

I5. The combination of the band-spring N, having the pin n, and the cap M, having the stem m, whereby the cap M and band J2 are simultaneously secured to the front stock.

16. The combination of the stock J, ,theV

wedge K, the trigger-plate C, and the rod L, substantially as described.

17. The combination f' the wedge K, the stock J, and the trigger-plate C, for the purpose of locking and unlockingv the triggerplate, substantially as described.

18. A breech-loading mechanism and stock, substantially as described, in combination with the cleaning-rod, whereby the said cleaning-rodis made the only fastening for securing all the mechanism in place, one part to another, and the whole' to the stock, substantially as herein set forth.

19. The wedge K, provided with the pins k2, whereby the stock J is prevented from dropping o' when the cleaning-rod L is removed, substantially as described.

20. The combination, substantially as described, of the front stock, barrel, and cleaning-rod, so constructed that these parts can be securely attached to each other without bands, or screws, or any similar fastenin gs, the

two former` being securely locked together by the cleaning-rod, substantially as described.

21. The combination of the barrel A, having the lugs a.' and M1, the stock J, and the rod L, substantially as described.

22. The combination of the strap-holder P2, the barrel A, provided with a lug, a', the

stock J, and the rod L, substantially as described.

. 23. In combination with a gun, a 'strap-` holder havinga swivel-extension, P3, upon that partwhich is fastened to the barrel. or stock, thereby allowing a swivel-movement of the loop attached thereto, substantially as set forth.

Witnesses: I F. THRALL,

L. C. STEVENS.

FRANK w. FREUND. 

